Ultra High Frame Rate CCD Camera

An Ultra High Frame Rate Imaging System has been developed, capable of acquiring images at a million frames per second and retaining the last 32 images acquired. This digital camera system employs PSI's patented CCD type solid state image sensor in which each pixel has its own analog memory. Applications include fluid cavitation imaging, hypersonic gas turbulence imaging and combustion research. This concept is being extended to 10 MHz frame rates.

Laser Detection and Recording Systems

Accidental exposure to hazardous levels of laser light can result in temporary, prolonged, or permanent changes in visual function, and with the growing use of lasers the likelihood of accidental exposure is increasing.  There is the need for routine monitoring, to warn of impending danger and to collect exposure data that can be used in identifying the cause/source of  vision impairment and to evaluate the success in controlling such radiation hazards.

PSI has developed a self contained, low cost laser sensor with recording capability (LSR) that can detect and record to what extent personnel are threatened and exposed to hazardous levels of visible and near IR laser light.  The particular emphasis is on aircraft crews but the LSR would also serve the same purpose in similar situations where the personnel are not necessarily aware that they are at risk.

Lightning Mapper System

PSI is developing a solid state CMOS array of “smart-pixels” that circumvents the power hungry high data processing rate by detecting and measuring the optical pulse associated with lightning transient events prior to readout of the array. With this approach the data readout rate, power consumption and weight can be reduced by an order of magnitude.

Automatic Muzzle Reference System (AMRS)

An Automatic Muzzle Reference System for measuring the angular motion of tank gun tube muzzle when tank is in motion and or being fired. Also used on howitzers. (1000 Hz bandwidth, wide dynamic range and low noise).

Condom Inspection System

This instrument, developed under FDA sponsorship, employs visible and ultraviolet light to detect pinholes, thin failure prone regions, embedded particles, and other defects in condoms.

Thomson Scattering Plasma Diagnostic

This instrument, currently installed on the MIT Alcator-Cmod magnetic fusion research machine, consists of four 25 element Avalanche Photodiode Arrays (APD), 100 channels of processing, digitizing electronics, polychromator optics, and optics inside the vacuum vessel to acquire the Thomson scattered laser photons. The laser wavelength is 1.06 microns and the pulse rate is 50 pulses/sec.

Ultraviolet Imaging

Ultraviolet imaging of rocket exhaust emission during burning and absorption spectra of cooled exhaust gases relative to air pollution.

Extreme (Windowless) Ultraviolet

Image sensor based on electron bombarding a back illuminated CCD with photoelectrons from a solid substrate photocathode. The photoelectrons are focused with a lightweight permanent magnet assembly. Suitable for single photoelectron detection or integrated exposure imaging.